Tank the Turtle navigates
his way through owner Steve
Gilfillan’s home on May 15.

Tank an ambassador
for snapping turtles
Scott Stewart

sstewart@nonpareilonline.com

Tank wakes up the same way every day.
His dad gets down on the floor, pulls off his blanket
and looks him in the eyes.
“You’re a silly boy, aren’tcha?” Steve Gilfillan asks.
Tank looks at his dad – well, that’s how Gilfillan
identifies himself – and pauses. He retreats back into
his blankets, like a child balking at the prospect of
going to school.
Gilfillan rouses him again, and finally Tank
relents.
He begins wandering around, then he climbs up
on his dad. He hoists his 31 pounds onto his shoulder
before returning to the floor to make his way toward
the bathroom.
“He still likes to be held like he was just a little
baby,” Gilfillan
That’s right, Tank, the 6-year-old snapping turtle,
still likes to be held, though as he continues to grow
almost twice as heavy, the time will come where Gilfillan might not be able to lift him so easily.
However, it’s remarkable Tank likes to be held at
all. Gilfillan’s pet is rare among snapping turtles for
being social, particularly for getting along so well with
people.
Male snapping turtles are territorial, living solitary
lives except for when they are mating, often taking
over a pond and driving away rival turtles. Tank isn’t
immune: he’s gone after Gilfillan’s laptop before when
he’s seen his own photo as a background image.
But he has only accidentally bit his owner once,
TANK/See Page 16F

Speak to a Council Bluffs Savings Bank representative
for more information or visit www.cbsavingsbank.com

*You must deposit at least $25 to open the Identity Safe Checking account.
Please contact the bank for additional account details and applicable fees.

*You must deposit at least $25 to open the Identity Safe Checking account.
Please contact the bank for additional account details and applicable fees.
LifeLock identity theft protection is not a deposit, therefore it is not FDIC insured and not guaranteed by Carroll County State Bank.

Val Brown

Faces of Neighbors

2F Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Daily Nonpareil

‘I can’t tell you how good it feels and in five
or six years they will be so gorgeous. People
will enjoy this for the next 100 years. That’s
how society grows and we would encourage
people to get ahold of a cemetery (for tree
planting). It’s a neat thing, a neat way to
contribute to our community.’
– Ron Payne,
Mason,
Cobia Lodge, No. 631

Staff photos/Joe Shearer

Above, the Cobia Masons Lodge 631’s Ron Payne, left, and Chuck Rodrigues stand near the Acacia Memorial at Cedar
Lawn Cemetery on May 17. Below, Payne inspects the health of a blue spruce tree at the cemetery.

PAYNE-STAKING
WORK
Mason dedicated to restoring area in cemetery
TIM ROHWER

trohwer@nonpareilonline.com

Awhile back, a local member
of the Masons visited the Cedar
Lawn Cemetery and saw a disturbing scene.
“What’s happening to all the
trees, I asked,” said Ron Payne.
“I noticed the trees were dying.”
Payne was referring to lovely
pine trees around the cemetery’s Acacia Memorial, dedicated in honor of past members
of the Masonic lodges. Apparently, the trees were dying from
an infestation of pine beetles.
“I live near here and I go
through there a lot,” Payne
said. “The trees were pretty
well gone. I looked around the
gravestones and there was
nothing at all.”
He and other Masons
decided to do something about
it. Fortunately, one of the fellow
Masons, Charles Rodrigues,
is an expert in forestry and
suggested blue spruce trees
because they’re more resistant
to disease. Money was raised to
purchase trees that were grown
in Oregon.
“The best,” he said, adding
that each cost $200.
In late April, a tree-planting
ceremony was held around that

memorial.
“We got 22 trees into the
ground. It was a moving service.”
And, Payne checks up on
them every day, he said.
“I can’t tell you how good it
feels and in five or six years
they will be so gorgeous. People
will enjoy this for the next 100
years. That’s how society grows
and we would encourage people
to get ahold of a cemetery (for
tree planting). It’s a neat thing,
a neat way to contribute to our
community.”
What’s more, a plaque recognizing donors for this project
is to be placed in the Council
Bluffs Masonic Temple, 130 S.
Sixth St.
The success of this project is
not surprising.
“This is a big volunteer
group here,” Payne said. “There
is always something going on.”
Payne is a member of the
Cobia Lodge, No. 631, one
of three lodges based at the
temple. More than 400 total
Masons there participate in
volunteer activities to help
their fellow residents.
“Just in Cobia, we have
about 130,” Payne said.
Every third Sunday, his
lodge serves a biscuit and gravy

breakfast for the public. But,
before those meals are prepared, the members prepare
and serve 85 meals to residents
at the MICAH House.
“They are so happy,” Payne
said of the residents.
To promote the Masons and
what this organization stands
for, the Cobia Lodge this year
hosted a Friendship Dinner to
interested individuals. Cobia
and the other two lodges, Bluffs
City and Excelsior, participated
in a pancake feed with the
Police Department in mid-April
to raise funds for needy families at Christmas time. Last
year, this effort helped more
than 40 families.
“We’re seeing an uptick in
membership,” said Payne, a
member for 10 years. “The only
requirement to join is a belief
in God.”
The Masons don’t forget
their fellow members once they
pass on, as is shown impressively by the Acacia Memorial
in Cedar Lawn. It’s a large
marble, three-column memorial with a broken column in
the center. It sits in an area
with approaches from the
south, west and north – the
symbolic eastern end of the
Masonic journey. Symbols of

the Masonic order adorn the
edges of the supported dome.
The origin goes back to the
stone masons of Europe centuries ago.
Among his other duties,
Payne helps put together a
quarterly newsletter keeping
members informed of upcoming
events and listing new members. Payne quickly pointed
out, however, he is just one of
the many volunteers who make
projects successful like the new
trees in the cemetery.
“I’m part of a committee, it
was not just me. I didn’t invent
the idea. It all came together.
It grew into a wonderful movement.”

Larry McKern was on his
way home from work one day in
1986 when he saw that Tastee
Treet on Wabash Avenue was
for sale. More than a quarter
of a century later the family
business is still thriving.
“The customers, getting to
meet them and take care of
them,” McKern said. “That’s
why I like the work, that’s

about 15,000 people, including
many staying near the shop,
Larry McKern got out of his
dairy gig just in time to help
take on the full force of the
bicycle ride.
“I had to come help for
that or we would’ve ended in
divorce,” Larry McKern said
with a chuckle.
From the time he took over
until 1997 Tastee Treet featured a walk-up style building.
That year McKern got word

‘Having my own shop instead of
someone bossing me around (besides
my wife) is what keeps me here.
Upkeep, sure it’s a chore, but it’d be a
chore working anywhere else.’
– Larry McKern,
Co-owner,
Tastee Treet
what I enjoy about this.”
Originally built in 1955,
today Tastee Treet offers a
variety of dinner and dessert
menu items. Meat is brought
in fresh from Fareway and pattied every day – “never frozen,” said McKern’s daughter,
Megan Hastie – while pizza
burgers, tenderloins, wraps
and barbecue round out the
lineup. Barbecue items include
pulled pork and pulled chicken,
ribs and beef brisket, along
with “a lot of sides.”
“Our cheese balls are our
biggest thing. You’d be surprised how many of those we
sell in a week,” Hastie said,
noting that the restaurant
goes through about 3-4 cases –
each with roughly 16 pounds of
cheese balls – per week.
On the sweet side, Tastee
Treat is a good spot for cones,
malts, shakes, sundaes and
candy malts.
Hastie runs the business
with her dad, taking on the
role of partner about six years
ago. The 2003 Lewis Central
High School graduate attended
Iowa Western Community College for business and afterward
was debating what to do.
Hastie had worked at the
shop from a young age, “but
I never knew if I’d do it full
time.”
“But I decided I can’t see
anyone else running this for
him, or him selling it,” she
said. “I’ve always been close
with my dad, love the family
atmosphere
here.”
That atmosphere includes
her older brother, Eric, who
works when available, though
his time’s been cut since getting a full-time job. Eric’s son
Mason and Hastie’s children
– Ryleigh, 8, and Lyla, 1 – are
also fixtures at the restaurant,
with Ryleigh now learning to
make change for customers
and also occasionally making
a malt.
A photo of the third generation adorns the wall under the
“Employee of the Month” sign,
with a new photo swapped in
often to the delight of customers
“It’s great to have everyone
here running around,” Larry
McKern said.
The family matriarch, Mary
McKern, is a nurse at Jennie
Edmundson Hospital, so her
Tastee Treet hours are limited.
But without her, the family
might not have the ice cream
parlor.
Larry McKern explained
that in 1986 he was working
for Meadow Gold Dairy, delivering items to area restaurants
and the like, when business
was starting to slow. He passed
Tastee Treet on the way home
every day and saw the “for
sale” sign and thought he’d
take a chance.
The family purchased the
location (which was already
spelled Tastee Treet, so the
McKerns just rolled with it),
but Larry stayed on with
Meadow Gold a little longer
to get to a 10-year pension.
So Mary, who’d just graduated
from nursing school, was left
in charge as the full-timer the
first four months.
With RAGBRAI bringing

The family keeps the business open from February
through November, taking a
few months off in winter when
business is slow and a vacation is much-needed. Summer
hours are from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 9 p.m.
on Sunday.
“When we added barbecue
(2006) we tried staying open
all year. If it’s cold and snowy
and people still think of you
as an ice cream store that’s
tough; we were way too slow,”
Larry McKern said.
As the 29th season of McKern family control continues,
the father-daughter duo running Tastee Treet said they
still love it.
“I like seeing the customers, we have a lot of regulars,”
Hastie said. “It gives you a
sense of pride and ownership

Staff photo/Joe Shearer

Larry, left, and Megan
Hastie toast with malts at
Tastee Treet on May 8.
when you’re here.”
Added her dad: “Having my
own shop instead of someone
bossing me around (besides
my wife) is what keeps me
here. Upkeep, sure it’s a chore,
but it’d be a chore working
anywhere else.”

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that Wabash Avenue would
be widened, which could’ve
affected the old building. Worried the county would condemn the building and pay
him the roughly $40,000 it
was worth at the time, and go
on with the widening project,
McKern decided to construct
a new building further off the
road.

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DAILY N9O-2013

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Faces of Neighbors

4F Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Daily Nonpareil

THE GOOD LAND
Hansen proud of homes, community at Bluffs Acres

TIM ROHWER

trohwer@nonpareilonline.com

One could call it a community within a
community.
It’s Bluffs Acres, one of the metro area’s
newest planned manufactured housing
community, located just south of Interstate
29/80 and behind the new JC Penney store
on South 24th Street.
“We have a good location,” said co-owner
Don Hansen. “It’s a good place to live.”
What used to solely be a trailer park is
being transformed into an area of manufactured homes with all the social contacts
a community provides.
There’s a new clubhouse where residents can enjoy daily coffee, a tutoring
room for the children, along with various
after school functions. It also has a “big
room,” Hansen said.
“We have movie nights, pot luck dinners, a Bible school. We have a barbeque
in the back. There is also a walking course
around the grounds, and a basketball
court. Our whole intent is to make people
comfortable. We want to foster community.”
The entire development got started back
in the mid-1970s when Hansen’s father,
Fred Hansen, and a partner, Bob Siegrist
purchased what was 100 acres of farmland
to create a trailer park. Hansen’s sons
three decades later purchased additional
acres, particularly to the north and east.
“The first thing we built when we took
over in 2008 was to build a storm shelter
that holds most anybody who wants to go
in. It’s designed to be quite secure.”
All residents have a key for the shelter allowing them access anything, especially if they feel more comfortable being
there even before official notification of
approaching danger, Hansen said.
The original clubhouse was torn down
to make way for the modern structure, he
added.
The heart of this community, of course,
is the attractive homes that have nearly
all the amenities of a more traditional
single-family homes. Best of all, they are
inexpensive, Hansen said.
“It’s designed for people who want to
own a home, not the home own them.”
Altogether, there 523 lots on the
grounds. Of the 430 residential families, most live in manufactured homes,
but those still living in trailer homes are
allowed to stay there as long as they want,
Hansen said.
“We’re redeveloping the area one by
one.”
Depending on the style and whether
they’re new or pre-owned, manufactured
homes can cost as low as $40,000 or less.
Yet, they provide adequate space with
carpeted living rooms with open kitchen
access, three bedrooms and two baths.
Today’s homes have thicker walls for better insulation and sound absorption. The
exteriors feature more dependable vinyl
siding and shingle roofs. Residents care for
their lawns that offer plenty of space, but
they’re not huge, either.
All residents pay a monthly fee to lease
their lots. Many of the residents are retired.
“Manufactured housing will be the solution for a comfortable retirement,” Hansen
said, adding that he began his love for
the housing industry as a young boy who
helped his father clean and vacuum the
original homes.
Other benefits for living there, Hansen
said, is the five-minute commute to downtown Omaha, along with quick access to
the interstate in traveling anywhere. The
streets are wide and well lit, and there’s
a Neighborhood Watch program for added
security. Areas for golfing, dining and
shopping are nearby. There’s also a new
24-hour, on-site outdoor storage area.
“It’s good for people on fixed incomes,”
Hansen said.

‘We have movie nights, pot luck dinners, a Bible
school. We have a barbeque in the back. There is
also a walking course around the grounds, and a
basketball court. Our whole intent is to make people
comfortable. We want to foster community.’
– Don Hansen,
Co-Owner,
Bluffs Acres

Staff photos/Joe Shearer

Top, Don Hansen stands inside a new structured home that is for sale at Bluffs Acres. Above, Hansen, who co-owns Bluffs
Acres, explains the difference between structured homes versus trailers or modular homes while on a tour of the community
on May 15.

Faces of Neighbors

The Daily Nonpareil

Sunday, May 25, 2014

5F

Staff photo/Joe Shearer

Members of the Council Bluffs Fraternity of Eagles No. 104 poses for a portrait on May 9 with a board showing where the group’s 2013-14 donations went.

THE ORDER

Fun, fundraising for the Fraternal Order of Eagles
Mike Brownlee

mbrownlee@nonpareilonline.com

Luaus, classic car shows,
remote-controlled car races,
theme dinners and more.
That’s how the Council Bluffs
Fraternal Order of Eagles
raises money for charity while
also having a great time.
“We just try to come up
with a different theme, something unusual, and have fun,”
said Kathy Woods, a member
of the women’s auxiliary for
11 years. “We always try to
do something different, something fun.”
Founded 113 years ago in
1901, the Council Bluffs club
was the 104th created in the
country. Today the organization boasts about 400 male
members and 150 female
members.
The club donated more than
$40,000 during the 2013-2014
season – which runs from
May through June, when new
officers are elected – which
surpasses the 2012-2013 total
of almost $37,000. The group
hosts about 15 to 20 fundraisers throughout the year.
Beneficiaries of the work
include the Council Bluffs
School System, Council Bluffs
Fire and Police departments,
the American Cancer Society,
the National Lung Foundation and impoverished families
during Christmas time. The
women’s auxiliary also puts
on a number of events for children, including during the Halloween, Christmas and Easter
holiday seasons.
Woods said the group also
raises funds for the Fraternal
Organization of Eagles Diabe-

tes Research Center, housed
at the University of Iowa.
Nationally, Eagles groups have
donated more than $25 million
to the center.
“Many of our charities are
research-based. We give out a
lot of grants to hospitals and
the like,” Woods said.
According to the organization’s website, the Eagles Club

was founded in 1898 by six
theater owners that gathered
in a Seattle shipyard to discuss
a musician’s strike.
“After addressing the matter, they agreed to ‘bury the
hatchet’ and form ‘The Order
of Good Things,’” the website
states. “As numbers grew,
members selected the Bald
Eagle as the official emblem

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and changed the name to ‘The
Fraternal Order of Eagles.’
The women’s auxiliary traces
its roots to 1927.”
Today membership in the
order exceeds 800,000, with
more than 1,500 local Aeries
in the U.S. and Canada. Women’s auxiliaries total more than
1,300. Members are recruited
by other members and must

be sponsored by two members
before the membership process
begins, the website said.
“I like volunteering; and
this club, we volunteer for
everything,” member Chris
Doyle said of why he joined
about nine years ago.
Woods said she joined
because her friends were members. And her husband, Randy,

has been a member almost 35
years. He’ll be designated the
Iowa Eagles Club president
next month.
“I’ve met a lot of people
across the United States. It’s
a wonderful organization,”
Kathy Woods said. “We have
fun raising money and give it
away. We give it all away and
start over again.”

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“I’ve sewed since I was like
10 years old.”
Martha Adair of Underwood recently put those skills
to work making a potato pillow
for a display at Fareway Stores,
310 McKenzie Ave.
The grocery chain had a contest to see which store could
come up with the best potato
display, Adair said. She works
in the produce department at
the Council Bluffs store.
“It was a big promotion for
Idaho potatoes,” she said. “I
thought, why not go back to the
old Mr. Potato Head?”
Adair sewed a pillow that
looked like Mr. Potato Head to
go with the Idaho potatoes and
Oscar Mayer bacon bits the
store wanted to draw attention
to, she said.
“He was holding an iPhone
and ... he’s got a shopping basket.”
Adair also made boy and girl
stuffed potatoes.
“I just made them with burlap bags and then painted faces
on them,” she said.
While she didn’t officially
win the contest, Adair’s display
was a hit with local shoppers
and staff. A photo was published in The Daily Nonpareil
during the promotion, which
has since ended.
Incidentally, Adair doesn’t
often make pillows, she said.
“The only reason I did it
was because of the contest,”
she said.
Adair generally spends more
of her time quilting than sewing, she said. She used to display her wares at craft shows.
“I quilt and I do other crafts,
and then I also take a decorative painting class,” she said.
“Usually, I send five or six
things each year to the State
Fair of my paintings.”
Often, she enters pictures
she has painted for class, she
said. Subjects may include
birds, other animals, landscapes and others. Adair has
been competing in the State
Fair for about 10 years, she
said. She is also a member of
the Omaha Guild of Decorative
Painters.
“I just make them basically
for myself,” she said. “My kids
have each gotten at least one.”
She has also donated some
to fundraisers and given some
to her grandchildren.
“I’ve given some blankets
for some service organizations,”
she said.
Besides taking years of
painting classes, Adair took
classes at the former Kanes-

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ville Quilting, she said.
“The more you learn, the
better off you are,” she said,
verbalizing the philosophy of
an avowed lifelong learner.
Adair grew up on a farm
near Norwich and graduated
from Shenandoah High School,
she said.
“I came from a sewing family,” she said. “My mother was
a longtime quilter – very into
quilting. I’ve sewed since I was
like 10 years old.”
As a child, she participated
in 4-H and entered projects in
county fairs.
Adair and her husband,
Keith, have been married for
50 years and have lived in
Underwood for 35. They have
five children, 12 grandchildren,
two great-grandchildren and
three stepgrandchildren. They
have daughters in Underwood
and Omaha and sons in Logan,
Kansas City and Norwich,
Conn.
The couple operated a
locker, K&M Market, in Clarinda for about four years, Adair
said. She was an operator for
Northwestern Bell for 19 years,
then worked on an assembly
line and warehouse for Western Electric.
“I drove a fork truck,” she
said, adding that she never
hit anything. She retired from
Connectivity Solutions in 2006
after 29 years with the series
of companies, then started at
Fareway a year later.
“I started out in the meat
department and decided I
needed a change of pace,” she
said.
Now, she chops fruits and
vegetables in the produce
department, makes up trays
and packages – and helps with
special projects.
Adair works about two days
a week at the store.
“A couple days a week is
good,” she said.

Staff photos/Joe Shearer

Top and above right, Underwood resident Martha Adair
works in the produce department at Fareway Stores in
Council Bluffs.
Staff photo/Cindy Bunten

Above, Fareway employees Martha Adair, left, of
Underwood and produce manager Will Forbes, right, of
Underwood, show off Adair’s “Mr. Potato Head” pillows
as part of Fareway’s potato display. Adair is active in the
arts having entered paintings into the Iowa State Fair she
crafts quilts, paints and obviously makes pillows. She has
worked at Fareway since it opened.

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200

DAILY N9O-2013

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Clockwise from top, Charlotte Aten inside her home on May 6. A collection of Aten’s quilts lay in her sewing room. Aten
looks through a quilt journal inside her home. A pin cushion rests on a quilt Aten is currently working on.

AN AMERICAN QUILTER
Aten makes quilts for family, charity

Scott Stewart

sstewart@nonpareilonline.com

Charlotte Aten started
quilting when she wanted to
make something to give her
first great-granddaughter.
Kloee may have been the
first of her relatives to receive
a quilt, but she was far from
the last.
Aten has given quilts to all
of her family members, along
with quilted toys for the children in her life. She has four

she began to connect with her
family, Aten’s heart is also
comforted knowing that many
of her quilts end up supporting
charity, comforting children
who are going through hard
situations.
After exhausting gifts for
her family, she needed a destination for the quilts she continued to make. Her quilting
supply shop of choice, Cut Up
& Quilt at 303 McKenzie Ave.,
is the drop-off point for Quilts
from the Bluffs quilt ministry

or three quilts in progress
at a time, usually in different stages of completion. She
said handwork can be done at
night in front of the television,
while other parts of the process
require access to her sewing
room.
Like many quilters, she said
she has UFOs – unfinished
objects – she may someday
return to, the result of becoming distracted or busy during
the creative process.
She said she usually sees a

of her church who lack experience during monthly quilting
meetings at her church, Our
Savior’s Lutheran.
“They’re kind of getting into
it,” she said.
For the church group, she
makes prayer quilts, which
have tassels that can be tied
together to represent a prayer.
People can then make ties on
the quilt just like they might
light a candle before saying a
prayer.
Quilting helps keep the

in quilting themselves, she
offered words of caution.
“Be careful because it is
addictive,” she said.
Like anything else in life,
she said quilting is something
to do because you enjoy it. For
some people, it is a hobby that
can be turned into a small

business.
But Aten said she quilts
because she wants to and it’s
something meaningful she can
do for her family and to help
others.
“It’s like a job,” she said. “If
you can work at something you
enjoy, you can sit and enjoy it.”

– Charlotte Aten,
Quilter
children, 11 grandchildren
and nine great-grandchildren,
including two that were just
born in March, she said.
She joked that she sluffed
off for a while before making
her own children quilts, focusing on her great-grandchildren
first. She also made her greatgrandchildren quilted elephants, an animal that can be
found in decorations throughout her Council Bluffs home.
For Kloee’s sister, Aten said
she made a red elephant – a
photo of which she still has in
one of her three quilt journals
– that was loved so much it
started to fall apart. The tail
came off first, followed by the
elephant’s trunk.
Fortunately, Aten was able
to make repairs and eventually craft a replacement to her
great-granddaughter’s delight.
“Now I’m called Doctor
Grandma,” she said. “That
makes my heart feel good,
knowing they’re enjoying what
I gave them.”
While quilting was a hobby

at First Christian Church.
Donated blankets go to
Project Linus, which distributes them to children in hospitals, shelters and other places
where children could benefit
from a security blanket.
Cut Up & Quilt offers an
easy way for her to donate, she
said. She doesn’t have to worry
where her work goes because
she knows it’s for a good cause.
She already traveled regularly to Cut Up & Quilt, too,
because she said she prefers to
give her business to local merchants. She said she prefers
the way it feels walking into
a small, independent shop to
gather fabric and supplies –
which she needs often enough.
“I do spend an awful lot of
time quilting,” she said.
Her favorite part of quilting is the creativity of envisioning the pattern, as well as
the reward of seeing the finished product compared with
the original concept, a feeling
familiar to artisans and artists
of many stripes.
Sometimes Aten has two

Wahl Optical

picture of the quilt in her head,
and sometimes she rejects
using a pattern for her work.
“I like to try to create my
own,” she said. “It guess it’s a
challenge.”
Aten was inspired to try
quilting because of her mother
and stepdaughter, who both
quilted.
“I tried other crafts, but this
one grabbed me,” she said. “It’s
kind of addicting.”
She’s since inspired one
of her granddaughters to try
quilting, although she didn’t
have as much time for it as a
young mother. She had also
shared quilting with her sister,
doing some shared projects,
until she “up and died,” as she
put it.
“I ended up having to finish
her quilts,” she said.
Aten also helps members

75-year-old busy, and she
acknowledged the craft is one
of those things you either love
or hate. To those interested

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Working on the radio and with non-profits,
Davis proudly touts his Bluffs connection

Ashlee Coffey

acoffey@nonpareilonline.com

The name Crash Davis
probably rings a bell to most
everyone in Council Bluffs and
the surrounding areas.
Even if people don’t recognize his face, they recognize his
voice, thanks to his many years
as a local radio personality.
“(Radio is) literally all I ever
wanted to do from the time I
was 6 years old,” he said. “My
parents moved, my dad built a
new house on a farm, put a new
stereo in and gave me his old
stereo. I plugged it in and there
was a Top 40 radio DJ on there,
and I was fascinated with it.”
Radio is virtually the only
thing Davis has done as an
adult – and he’s done almost all
aspects of it.
“I started on air on June
30, 1987. I did over nights at a
country station and worked my
way to assistant program director, music director and promotions director. I’ve worked
mornings, mid-day and afternoon; I did sales for a long
period of time; I ran a creative services department; and
I’ve done music radio and talk
radio. I even started my own
outdoor show – the Ultimate
Outdoor Show, which I own,”
he said. “That has branched off
into commercial work, marketing for companies, and I also
do writing for online articles,
which have been published in
national magazines.”
Currently, Davis is the
director of marketing for NRG
Media Omaha, and is also the
brand manager/program director for 101-9 The Big O. He’s on
the air weekdays from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
“It keeps me busy,” he said.
Davis, whose real name is
Todd McCarty, said the name
“Crash Davis” came from one
of his first bosses.
“I was working in Carroll
doing morning radio and was
using my real name. Then I
started working in Des Moines
and said, ‘Look, I can’t use the
same name...’ and one of my
bosses said, ‘Well, we’ll just call
you Crash Davis,’” he said. “It
just sort of stuck. Thankfully,
I was able to build a brand
around that and people remembered it. It kind of gave me a
nice separation and anonymity,
I guess. It just worked out.”
When he’s not working,
Davis can probably be found
spending time with his family,
which includes his wife, Jamie,
and their three children – a
26-year-old Navy veteran and
two elementary-aged girls. He
also enjoys giving back to the
community through his charity
work.
“One of the things I’m most
proud of what I do is the charity work that I’ve asked to
be associated with,” he said.
“When I was very young, my
dad told me to never be afraid
to use your abilities to help others do good.”
Davis has been volunteering
his time to Make-A-Wish Iowa
for the past six years. He helps
the families, as well as emcees
their banquet events.
“It’s extremely satisfying
work. You get to know the families, you get to know what the
impact has been. It’s just overwhelming,” he said.
Davis is also an avid biker,
and has been riding motorcycles for “as long as I’ve been
able to hold up two wheels,”
he said.
As a biker, Davis and some
of his friends started a riding
group called “The 2nd Amenders” in May of 2011. It’s a riding
group that supports motorcycle
safety and awareness, as well
as second ammendment rights.
“But we also support organizations like Make-A-Wish. We
help with whatever, whether
it’s donations or fundraising.
Whatever we can do, we do,”
he said.
The group has also helped
with the Jeff Ahl Memorial
Ride. Ahl was killed May 23,
2012 when a vehicle clipped
his motorcycle at an Omaha
intersection. They also make
donations toward the Nebraska
Firearms Owners Association.
The motorcycle awareness
aspect of the group is because
Davis was involved in a very
horrific motorcycle accident in
July of 2010.
“I was hit by a drunk driver
going to work at 5:30 a.m. He
had bounced off another vehicle
already before he hit me. He
was probably going 55 mph

Staff photos/Joe Shearer

Above and at left, radio personality Crash Davis works
the airwaves inside the NRG Media studios in Omaha on
May 15.

when he hit me at a stop sign at
30th and Burke (in Omaha),”
he said. “I was in the hospital
for a couple of weeks. I had
to rebuild an elbow, I broke
my tailbone in three places,
tore ligaments in my feet, and
suffered puncture wounds and
bruises. A year later, I’m at
an event at the Anchor Inn in
Omaha, and the rescue squad
that picked me up off the street

somehow, I became the go-toguy for some of the media people for the face for motorcycle
accidents and drunk drivers.
I thought, why not use that?
Why not use who I am as an
intention to let people know
motorcycles are there? They’re
around us.”
He’s also on the board of
directors for Friends of Lake
Manawa, a group of local

with so many organizations
because of how blessed he has
been throughout his life.
“I’ve been able to achieve
a lot of the things I’ve wanted
to do. It feels like the right
thing to do,” he said. “To me,
it feels normal. I watched my
grandparents do it and I’ve
watched my parents do it. My
dad donated time and energy to
a lot of causes he cared about.

around the midwest doing various radio gigs.
“I take my pride in this city
pretty strong. I love the things
the city has been doing, and I
like the direction it’s going. I
take it personally when I see
cheap shots taken at this city.
I really do like this town a lot
and when people take cheap
shots because of its past – you
know, what it was 30 years
ago – it makes me mad,” he
said. “They don’t know what it’s
like now. They’ve never experienced what Lake Manawa is
like, or the fact that we have
one of the biggest Google infrastructures around getting built,
or the 100 Block. Look around.
It’s not strip bars and adult
entertainment anymore. Those
are gone – they’ve torn them
all down. It’s a vibrant, young
community. And it’s a great
place to raise a family.”
Somehow, despite how busy
he is, Davis manages to find
enough time to do everything –

When I was very young, my dad told me to never be
afraid to use your abilities to help others do good.’
– Crash Davis,
Radio personality
that day told me they thought
it was a recovery, not a rescue.
They thought I was dead. It
was pretty horrific. So I take
a lot of that motorcycle awareness stuff personally.”
Davis said he used the inspiration of that accident to get
back on a motorcycle becuase
the accident “wasn’t my fault.”
“I had a doctor tell me I
couldn’t get back on a motorcycle because it almost killed
me – and I said no, a Jeep
almost killed me. Sadly, while
I was in the hospital, the four
guys coming home from Sturgis got killed by a kid north of
Missouri Valley,” he said. “So

residents that work with the
Iowa Department of Natural
Resources.
“We’re trying to move the
campground to the north part
of the lake; and work with the
Iowa Department of Natural
Resources to get a drudge project done, which is going forward now,” he said. “I really
care about that lake. It’s the
centerpiece of the city. It’s the
busiest state park in the state
of Iowa, which people don’t
realize. About 1.5 million day
users a year go through that
place because it is a metropolitan park.”
Davis said he volunteers

spend time with family, work,
volunteer, and be outdoors, riding his motorcycle – a Honda
Gold Wing. And he wouldn’t
have it any other way.
“I don’t sit around because
I want to be involved. I can’t
stand watching life go by. I
have to be a part of it,” he
said. “People should really get
involved and do stuff, rather
than say ‘Someday I’m going
to do that.’ I was almost killed,
so I don’t (say) that anymore.
It was just an average morning going to work, but man, it
was almost over. That changed
everything in my life. Life is
way too short.”
For those interested in giving their time by volunteering,
Davis suggests “finding what
you care about.”
“Find what you love and
you’ll find an organization that
can use your help,” he said.
“Then it’s not a challenge – it’s
fun. It’s something you can look
forward to.”

It was just how I was brought
up.”
And, even though he’s not
technically from here, the
entirety of Council Bluffs
means a lot to him.
“There’s no question, this is
my adopted hometown,” Davis
said.
Originally from Lester,
which is in northwest Iowa,
he moved to Council Bluffs
in 1992, after having moved

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the summer. Check website for updates.

Scheduled Appointments:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Same day appointments available

Walk-In Clinic:

Monday-Thursday 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

PLEASE CALL 712-256-5600 TO
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Faces of Neighbors

The Daily Nonpareil

Sunday, May 25, 2014 9F

‘There is a long tradition of landscape photographers
using their art to encourage preservation’
– Buck Christensen
Photographer

Staff photo/Joe Shearer

Buck Christensen sits in his home last month.
Christensen is a local photographer who
specializes in landscape photography.

LIVING
THROUGH
THE LENS

Christensen to show floral
photos at Lauritzen Gardens

Photo by Buck Christensen

‘wabash barn at dusk’ is part of Buck Christensen’s series
of local barn photographs.

Scott Stewart

sstewart@nonpareilonline.com

Buck Christensen has always enjoyed photography.
“I’ve always liked the art of it,” he said.
But the local photographer behind many beautiful views of
the Loess Hills and its flowers didn’t get serious about his art
until 2010 after a trip to South Padre Island opened his eyes to
the fact he didn’t know how to consistently make a good photo.
He honed his skills, learning how to control how what he
sees through his viewfinder gets translated by the lens and
camera to form an image. He now operates a blog, www.buckstopphoto.com, and shows his work around the Council Bluffs
area.
“I’m not doing too bad,” he said. “I’ve been a part of the photography community for a long time.”
His focus is on flower and landscape photography, more
along the fine arts end of the spectrum, he said. He will have
a collection titled “A Theft in the Garden” showing minimalist
floral portraits at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha from June 21
through Aug. 5.
“Buck Christensen can spend hours with a single flower,
exploring the way its expression changes with every new
pose, every slight adjustment in perspective,” according to the
Lauritzen Gardens’ website. “The slow and deliberate process
in the changing light, with shifting shadows, is fascinating
to him. As evidenced by the minimalist compositions in this
collection, Christensen is rarely satisfied with anything more
than a single flower against the sterility of a white background
– an uncluttered stage.”
Christensen, however, offered a more humble summary of
the collection: “That’s all flower stuff.”
Working primarily out of a corner of his dining room, what
passes for a studio is largely made up of white boards and good
light from a window, as well as space for flowers and photo
prints.
Photography remains a secondary pursuit for Christensen.
He said camera manufacturers Nikon or Canon would probably classify him as an enthusiast – even if his work is displayed
in prominent galleries and he sells prints of his photos online.
“I don’t know if I’d ever consider myself to be a professional,” he said. “I don’t know at what point you become a
professional.”
Initially, most of Christensen’s photography was of the
exotic, travel photography like his shots of pelicans on South
Padre Island. But with the birth of his daughter in 2011, the
traveling has given way to more local subjects for landscape
and floral photography.
“I started going out around here, paying attention to local
preserves,” he said.

One of his favorite sites is Vincent Bluff, a state preserve
located on the north side of Interstate 80 along Harry Langdon
Boulevard. The area doesn’t draw much of a crowd, unless you
count ticks, but it gives an opportunity to see nature not far
from Christensen’s back door.
“I spend a lot of time there,” he said.
He also enjoys Folsom Point toward Glenwood, another
Loess Hills preserve with rugged terrain.
“Nobody’s ever there,” he said.
Christensen said he hopes his photos help show the value
of keeping natural spaces undeveloped, especially near urban
centers. Without nearby national parks, the importance of
keeping the preserved unmolested is all the higher.
“There is a long tradition of landscape photographers using
their art to encourage preservation,” he said.
Outside the preserves, even in his own back yard, Christensen is on the lookout for wild flowers or other subjects for
photos.
He finds flowers at local farmers markets, as well as his
mother-in-law’s flower garden. He has also teamed up with
Loess Hills Floral Studio to find new flowers.
He avoids portraits for the most part, his tendency toward
perfectionism preferring to work with subjects that don’t move
around or who aren’t invested in the photo. He also likes to use
slow exposures with a low sensitivity to light.
“I much prefer the more controlled studio environment,” he
said. “I like to be the only one who cares.”
A lot of variables go into getting the perfect photo, including
whether a car is traveling up the hill outside his house. One
photo might take a half hour to get a sharp shot, he said.
Fortunately, Christensen has time to focus on his art
because he works from home, allowing the occasional break
while he works full-time as an editor for Web M.D.
“In the afternoons, I just wanted to take some flower photos
to pass the time,” he said. “Now I have time to do a lot more
stuff, and I tend to fill that with photography.”
Becoming a father did turn his life “completely upside
down,” he said, but it also forced him to revaluate the way he
works as a photographer, especially when it comes to landcapes.
“It kind of forced me to redefine where I thought were good
landscapes,” he said. “There are a lot of great natural places
around here that are not urbanized.”

Photo by Buck Christensen

‘dancing on glass’ is part of Buck Christensen’s series of
photographs of Lake Manawa’s Boy Scout Island.

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“Since I’ve been getting the
laser treatments, the pain in my
right shoulder has started to
lessen. I’ve gone to multiple
doctors, physical therapists,
chiropractors, everything trying
to get the muscles to relax.
They were like a knob of steel.”
- Patty Smalley -

FACES OF HISTORY:
J. CHRIS JENSEN
Architect designed many of C.B.’s historic buildings
John Schreier

jschreier@nonpareilonline.com

In an interview with The Nonpareil late in his life,
noted Council Bluffs architect J. Chris Jensen was
pleased when he looked back at his life.
“I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve done everything I
want to do.”
Safe to say, he’d probably be pleased to see how
much of his work lives on decades later.
In his lifetime, Jensen had a hand in constructing
773 buildings, many of which still stand and serve
prominent roles in Council Bluffs today. However, his
service to the city wasn’t just limited to his architecture.
Born in Denmark in 1873, Jensen and his family came to the U.S. in his youth, settling in Council
Bluffs when he was 8. When he turned 13, he began
an apprenticeship at a mill.
After saving up a few hundred dollars from his
work, a teenaged Jensen set out exploring a possible future career in lumber mills before returning to Council
Bluffs. There, he overheard a conversation at the train station about the
lucrative nature of landing a contract.
Sure enough, at the age of 18, Jensen changed his career path to become
a contractor – and landed the very contract that inspired his vocation.
Jensen was 20 when he launched
his own architecture firm – which
ultimately outlived him, surviving
“droughts, depressions and wars,” The
Nonpareil later wrote – that created
many of the city’s landmark buildings.

Nonpareil file photo and staff photos by Kirby Kaufman

Two of architect J. Chris Jensen’s (top),
other Council Bluffs projects are listed on
the National Register of Historic Places.
The former YMCA building, 628 First Ave.
(center), and the Chevra B’nai Yisroel
Synagogue, 618 Mynster St. (right), are
protected properties.

FACES OF THE FUTURE
Alizia Frieze

Alizia Frieze is always looking to strive for greatness.
The 9-year-old Bloomer Elementary School fourth-grader
recently saw her fifth-grade peers complete their schooling and
move up to middle school. Frieze said she can’t wait to be in that
position next year.
“[School] gets harder everytime you move up,” she said. “I
like to push myself to do better work.”
Frieze enjoys studying mathematics the most in school, and
said that the element of problem solving can apply to more than
just classroom-based issues.
“You have to use math in everyday life,” she said.
Looking toward the future, Frieze said that she would like
to pursue a career in law enforcement. As an early student of
karate, she thinks that, and her knack for problem solving and
self-betterment, would be a good fit for the job.
“I’ve been working on karate for a while now,” she said. “And
I think that if I stick with it I can push myself to make it as a
police officer.”
Academics and future career aside, Frieze is excited to finish
school for the summer and just enjoy the rest, relaxation and
loads of play time that go along with the break. She plans on
getting in a lot of trampoline time in her backyard; and maybe
- hopefully - get in a trip to Worlds of Fun or Six Flags amusement park.
But at the end of the day, Frieze is always thinking ahead to
a brighter future for herself and others.
“Always push yourself,” she said. “And never give up.”

His first major project was the Woodward candy factory, which hired the famous “little couple” of Jean and
Inez Bregant as spokespeople. Though it took many
years to build, it was later demolished after the owner’s
death and sale of the company.
Many of his other landmarks – Jennie Edmundson
Hospital, Thomas Jefferson High School and Bloomer
and Longfellow elementary schools – remain in use
today, more or less with their original exteriors intact.
Two of his other Council Bluffs projects are listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. The former
YMCA building, 628 First Ave., and the Chevra B’nai
Yisroel Synagogue, 618 Mynster St., are protected properties.
Many of Jensen’s houses are still in existence several
decades after they were first built. His family – including his nine children – long lived at 520 Oakland Ave.
Another of his claims to fame was building an estimated
300 Safeway grocery stores in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.
However, The Nonpareil wrote in 1944, his “last great
triumph” was Council Bluffs City Hall. The Art Deco
building at 209 Pearl St. started as a Works Progress
Administration project during the Great Depression.
Without a doubt, the former City Hall, located on the
site of the current Omni Centre, was not well loved by
Council Bluffs citizens.
A 1930s Nonpareil article covered how some people
attempted to prevent the fire department from battling
a blaze in the building. “No luck! Bluffs City Hall doesn’t
burn,” the headline read.
In contrast, the city celebrated the 75th anniversary
of its current City Hall last December.
Despite his architectural plaudits, Jensen served the
city in many public capacities as well. He was a city
council member for several years, but his largest contribution to the city was 21 years on the Water Works
board.
The Nonpareil said when Jensen began working on
the board, the water quality and pressure were poor
across town – particularly for firefighters.
Yet when his time on the board ended, many residents who had never previously had more than pumps
or wells had access to city water. The plant alone was
valued at $2 million, a sizable sum in the 1930s and
1940s, and had earned the state board of health’s seal of
approval.
In addition to public service, Jensen was active in a
number of service and church groups.
Less than two years after telling the newspaper he’d
done everything he wanted to do with his life, Jensen
died suddenly at the age of 72 on Aug. 18, 1946.
After his death, though, his legacy would still live on
in his work.
As The Nonpareil wrote, days after Jensen’s death,
on Aug. 24, 1946: “In both lines of endeavor, he had
attained national stature and was known from coast to
coast.
“This city is certain to miss him in years to come.”

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GET BEHIND THE SCENES
ON EXHIBIT MAY 24 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2014
The creation of Design Zone was made possible by the generous support of the National Science Foundation.
The exhibition was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

Situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri and Boyer River basins, Missouri Valley is a gateway to the scenic Loess Hills and the entire state
of Iowa. A midsized city home to 2,992 people, it is a communinity which prides itself in its strong schools, rich heritage and safe neighborhoods.
Missouri Valley is served by many national transportation routes, including Interstate 29, Interstate 680, and U.S. Highway 30. Union Pacific
Railroads service the area with numerous single and double tracks along their major lines and provide easy access to national trade centers.
ANTIQUES • ANTIQUES • ANTIQUES • ANTIQUES

2455 Hwy. 30
For information call (712) 642-2124
any type of party – graduation, wedding, anniversary, birthday, or for a
fundraiser, customer appreciation or
corporate event.
The club has a full tournament
schedule throughout the summer
consisting of 4-person best balls,
3-person best balls, 2-person Ryder
Cup and three couples tournaments
with a variety of formats. For more
information, please give us a call at
712-642-2124.
Getting people to believe in
flowers again is Mary Jo’s business, and she loves every minute of
it. Mary Jo Buckley opened M.J.’s
Flowers and Balloons in 1996 as a
full service florist. With her passion
for weddings and every day flowers, she has enjoyed making families
happy with the flowers chosen for
their loved ones. “It’s the nicest feeling,” says Mary Jo.
With funeral work being the majority of her business, M.J.’s Flowers
and Balloons has established the capability of shipping flowers around
the corner, or across the world. “Memorial items are also big in my shop;
from angels to garden items for a
lasting memorial,” added Mary Jo.
In 2011, M.J.’s moved to a bigger and better shop in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Yet, this wasn’t before they
decided to add rental tuxedos for
proms and weddings to help clients
save a few trips to the “big city”.

In the summer of 1987, Bruce
and Janice Allen opened the Missouri Valley Antique Mall with their
business partner, Larry Stevens. After a 9 year steady increase of business, they built a second building
and opened a Gift and Craft Center.
During 2011, the Missouri River
flood forced the business owners
to evacuate their stores. “We were
lucky and didn’t have any damage,
but we lost 6 months of business,”
mentioned Bruce Allen in reference to the devastating flood. They

elected to not reopen the Gift Center.
Instead, they opened the building as
a Classic Car Store, which currently
has 14 cars for sale.
“We have enjoyed many years
of successful business, met many
wonderful people, had many great
dealers in our mall, and we’ve had
customers from nearly every state
and many foreign countries,” said
Bruce Allen. “I would like to invite
everyone to come see us and check
out our great stores. We are just ½
mile west of I-29 on Highway 30.”

Missouri Valley Insurance
Agency, located at 407 E Erie Street
has been at it’s current location since
the mid 1960’s with various names
and owners. In 1997, the current
owners, Jay H. Smith and Dennis L.
Smith assumed ownership.
The Agency sells and services all
types of Property and Casualty products for the local homeowners, farming families, businessmen and women
along with MPCI and Hail products for
the local farmers. It is an independent
insurance agency affiliated with the
Big “I” and represents many competi-

tive Companies and Mutuals.
The Agency staffs 5 full time
employees representing over 50 years
of accumulative experience. They
encourage everyone to shop local for
their insurance needs. A friendly face
when needed could very well turn
an unfavorable event into one that
is somewhat manageable. Friendly
service is their priority in this age of
the world wide web. And the agency
truly believes that a familiar face and
friendly service may very well out
score the 1-800 numbers and internet
companies.

AvocA

kayak or canoe with local outfitters who capitalize on the scenic beauty of the Nishnabotna
River that flows through the lush
green countryside of Western
Iowa. In addition to the river
tours that originate in Avoca, the
city government has also been
proactive in developing an array
of recreational services such as
a municipal golf course and a
large aquatic center. The Aquatic
center opened June 1, 2011 and a
newly designed clubhouse for the

The Hair Factory opened its
doors in April of 1990. One of the
original owners, Lorie mentions
“When we started here in Avoca 24
years ago, we were one of several
beauty salons in town. Now there are
only two left.” Lorie and current coowner Sarah attribute this to staying
as “trendy” as possible. “We add
new products and services as they
come out,” adds Lorie.
In June, The Hair Factory will be
adding a new stylist who happens to
be the daughter of one of the original

COMING SOON!

www.mvantiques.com

Memberships starting

The city of Avoca was
established over 143 years ago
when the Rock Island Railroad
ran from Des Moines to Council
Bluffs and has enjoyed a long
history as a retail center for rural
Pottawattamie County.
The name Avoca was taken
from a poem by Thomas Moore
called “The Meeting of The
Waters”, derived from an old Irish
tale, “Vale of Avoca” which means
where the bright waters meet.
Today water enthusiasts can tube,

Bloom Alert.

1/2 mile West of I-29 on Hwy. 30 • Mo Valley
25 miles north of Council Bluffs & Omaha

Daily Green Fees Available

Logan Missouri Valley Country
Club is located at 2455 Hwy. 30 in
Logan, Iowa. The club was established in 1946. The land was originally graded by the USDA. It was
started as a full service membersonly course with a full restaurant,
lounge and clubhouse. Since it
is member-owned and a non-profit
organization, all profit (if any) comes
back into the course buildings and
grounds. The club can be rented for

Athough later than normal watch for our

MoValley
Classic
Cars!

golf course opened in the fall of
2011.
The picturesque downtown
has been recently renovated and
the city has been successful in
rescuing many older structures
returning them to the ambiance
of Avoca’s early years when the
Rock Island Railroad carried passengers between Des Moines and
Council Bluffs.
The city of Avoca is also
focusing on affordable housing
programs designed to attract

Darlene
Eggerss

H

Hoffmann Ins. L.C.
152 S. Elm St.
Avoca, IA 51521

owners. Along with their Hair Care
services, The Hair Factory also offer tanning. While understanding
the key to tanning moderation, Lorie explains, “With the skin cancer
scare we face now, we try to keep
our customers as educated on the
risks out there.” This full service hair
care salon has stood the test of time,
and they plan to continue providing
Southwest Iowa with their skilled
services. Call for an appointment today!

Office:712.343.6707
Home: 712.343-6684
Fax: 712.307-6710
E-Mail: dke@walnutel.net
Hoffmann Ins. LC was started on February 1, 1992 by McCauley-Schuler
Ins. Agency in Atlantic, IA and Harold and Bonnie Hoffmann. Darlene
Eggerss was hired to manage the
business at that time. In 2002 she
purchased the half that was McCauleySchuler, which was later purchased by
Brocker, Karns & Karns Inc. Darlene
is still managing the business today.
Nancy Collins is also an agent in the
office, and she is selling Long Term
Care, Aflac, and life insurance.
There have been many changes
in the insurance business over the

After visiting the lavender fields
of Sequim, WA in 2005 during the
Sequim Lavender Festival, it was
love at first sight for Mary and Tim
Hamer. Cutting bundles of fresh lavender and inhaling the aroma, they
knew they had to do this in Iowa. At
that time they did not have the farm,
and it was 4 years of research and
planning before they bought their
little acreage in the Loess Hills not
far from where they both grew up.
In 2009 they broke ground
with 1200 Lavender plants. Since
then they have continued to add
more plants through their 4 years
of operation. They now have over
2000 plants boasting 10 different
varietals. Mary and Tim strive to
make the grounds a place of natural
beauty integrating native grasses
and flowers to enhance the property
spring, summer, or fall. During their
years of operation they have maintained an organic process of growing lavender and will continue to do
so. Each year they have seen more
honeybees and butterflies return to
the area and that just adds to the
wonder and excitement of the time
spent in the field.
Plan a group visit for a presentation on the Amazing Herb

Lavender, savor lavender cookies
and lavender lemonade, shop in
our gift shop where you find Mary’s
hand made products from the farm;
lavender lotion, balms, spritz, soaps,
etc as well as 36 other artisans that
sell their hand made or repurposed
items in the shop. Walk through the
field and cut your own bouquet of
lavender or just enjoy the butterflies
and the beauty and peace of the
country setting in the Loess Hills.
Loess Hills Lavender Farm
has recently teamed up with 9 other
entities in the Loess Hills to make;
Living Loess – Connect with the
Hills, a self guided car tour of 20
Miles of Treasures in the hills. On
the third Sat of each month from
May through October you can visit
each of them. Have your passport
signed and have the chance to win
a gift worth over $1000. Check us
out at www.livingloess.com or call
Mary for more information at 712642-9016.
Due to the harsh winter, our
field is greening later than usual.
Feel free to call to see where we are
or follow our Big Bloom alert on our
web page at www.loesshillslavender.com or Facebook or just give me
a call.

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Your Daily Nonpareil lets you race around in many ways.
printed publication at your own home at your own speed
around our website with no limits, and you can even zoo
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young people and retirees to the
area and is actively involved in
working with local businesses
to maintain a welcoming atmosphere for new residents or tourists who simply want to spend
a relaxing weekend savoring the
lush beauty of Western Iowa.
For more information please
call 712-343-5454 or visit our
website at www.cityofavoca.com

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and hand rating each risk to com-

puter generated applications and raters. There have been years where the
market was soft and then changed to
a hard market. This made some risks
harder to place. The government got
more involved with crop insurance,
health insurance and other lines over
the years. This has forced agents to
take a lot of classes to get all their
needed continuing education credits
for them to be able to continue to
sell and service these products. One
of the biggest changes I have seen is
in the homeowner market due to all
the weather related losses across the
nation. The rates went up and several
companies have changed their coverage on roof replacement and higher
deductibles.
What challenges await us? We witness, daily, the struggles of our customers trying to protect their assets
when they have a loved one admitted
to a long term care facility, a loss of
life, a property or crop loss, or an auto
accident. We are trying to show them
the ways to protect their resources
when one of these events suddenly
happens. There are several ways to
insure these events and still keep all
of your assets. We are here to help
you make those decisions.

535 W. Broadway • Suite 300 • Council Bluffs, IA 51503

www.nonpareilonline.com

535 W. Broadway • Suite 300 • Council Bluffs, IA 51503

www.nonpareilonline.com

535 W. Broadway • Suite 300 • Council Bluffs, IA 51503

www.nonpareilonline.com

Underwood

Underwood is located
approximately 10 miles northeast of the Council Bluffs, Iowa
and Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area and is accessible
from Interstate 80 at exit 17.
Distance to Eppley Airfield,
Omaha Nebraska, is 24 miles.
Contributing to a positive
quality of life within the City
of Underwood is an excellent

educational system, community hall with tennis courts,
baseball and softball complexes, soccer fields, the newly
developed Trailhead Park with
picnic pavilion, churches,
Optimist Club, and a state of
the art volunteer fire and rescue department.
A large number of local
facilities within 30 minutes

Underwood Optimist Club
“Bringing Out the Best in Kids!”
It’s our motto, it’s who we are
and what we do. We are people
who care about our communities
and make a difference. We conduct positive service programs for
our youth and our community. The
Underwood Optimist Club is currently comprised of 55 members
and sponsors two Optimist Youth
Clubs (High School and Middle
School). Be our guest at a Club
meeting and check us out. You’ll be
glad you did!

of Underwood include golf
courses, swimming pools, fitness centers, public library,
theatres, opera, historical sites
and museums, many fine restaurants and popular attractions such as the Old Market,
Bluffs Run-Ameristar-Harrahs
Casinos, Henry Doorly Zoo and
Joslyn Art Museum.

Soaring
to

Excellence

Serving the communities of

• Underwood
• Bentley

• McClelland
• Weston

Underwood Community School District
www.underwoodeagles.org

MeMorial Day Music Festival
toDay,
sunDay
May 25
unDerwooD,
iowa
Ten MinuTes
easT of
oMaha
outdoor pavilion
In January 2014, Duane Rowe purchased Friends Restaurant and
Lounge in Underwood, IA. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner
and is famous for their delicious
broasted chicken. Their hours of
operation are Tuesday – Friday from
11 am-2 pm for lunch and 5 pm-9
pm for dinner, Saturdays opening
at 2 pm with live entertainment at
night. Sundays, 11 am – 4 pm
and they are closed on Mondays.

Today, Sunday, May 25th there will
be a Memorial Day Music Festival
at Friends Restaurant and Lounge in
an outdoor pavilion. The live entertainment lineup will be The Hector
Anchondo Band at 2 pm, SwampBoy
at 5 pm at all the way from Chicago
Rockin” Johnny with The Honeyboy
Turner Band at 8 pm. Stop by and
enjoy the show! Check our Facebook
page for events and specials.

Elementary, Middle School & District Office:
601 Third Street, Underwood
High School: 629 North Street, Underwood

The Underwood Community
School district is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Council
Bluffs. Interstate 80 is located
almost in the middle of the district
making Council Bluffs, Omaha and
Des Moines readily accessible. The
District operates in three attendance
centers. All centers are located in
Underwood, although the district
also includes the towns of Bentley,
McClelland and Weston. Our elementary center houses PK-5 students, middle school houses 6-8
students and the high school facility
houses 9-12 students. The district
has 800 students and offers a wide
variety of extracurricular activities.
Most of the students take part in
activities of their interest The district offers a Latch-Key program for
school age children. This service
provides before and after school
day-care and is operated in the elementary center. Also, extended day
care is offered for preschool students. Within the city of Underwood
and assisting to create a positive
quality of life are the following: an
excellent educational system, tennis
courts, baseball and softball fields,
soccer fields, city activity centre,
churches, volunteer fire department,
rescue squad and Optimist club.

Logan

Logan was founded in 1867 and is located approximately 31 miles northeast of Council Bluffs.
Henry Reel founded Logan in 1867, naming it in honor of General John A. Logan, a favorite
army officer. The first place of business in Logan was that of a drug store operated by George
Waterman. This was located on the south side of the park.

Carson is located only 30
minutes east of Council Bluffs
on Highway 92. The community’s population has grown to
812 in 2010.
The Carson Community
Club was established in 1954 to
promote local businesses and
to promote Carson Community
Spirit. Club membership is
open to anyone who is interested in having fun volunteering
while making Carson a better
community!
The Dreamland Theater
located at 107 Broadway is one
of the oldest, longest operating
theatre in the State of Iowa.
The theatre provides current
movies at a very reasonable
admission rate of $4 per adult
and $3 per youth. The theatre
is open Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday evening at 7pm. Show
starts at 7:30pm.
The City of Carson has
a full calendar of annual
events available for the public to enjoy. They include:
Easter Egg Hunt, High School
Rodeo, Carson Jubilee , PRCA
Pro Rodeo, Rodeo Parade with

oaKLand

Oakland is approximately 45
minutes from the Omaha metro
area. The city is located along
Highway 59 and near the junction of Highway 6.
The community of Oakland,
including its quaint main street,
possesses a number of business opportunities and opportunities for growth in the community. There are several key
locations for housing expansion
and development, and the city is
postured for service and change
in the areas of growth and economic development.
Oakland has three parks in
their city and a golf course and
country club. There is also a
bowling alley, and river canoeing is available. The Oakland
swimming pool renovations
were completed May 2010 and
the pool is now open. Oakland
is also home to the Nishna
Heritage Museum and has an
annual Fourth of July celebration. Oakland is also near Big
Grove Country Inn and the Six
Feathers Hunting Preserve.

2455 Hwy. 30
For information call (712) 642-2124
Logan Missouri Valley Country Club is located at 2455
Hwy. 30 in Logan, Iowa. The club was established in
1946. The land was originally graded by the USDA.
It was started as a full service members-only course
with a full restaurant, lounge and clubhouse. Since
it is member-owned and a non-profit organization, all
profit (if any) comes back into the course buildings and
grounds. The club can be rented for any type of party

– graduation, wedding, anniversary, birthday, or for a
fundraiser, customer appreciation or corporate event.
The club has a full tournament schedule throughout the
summer consisting of 4-person best balls, 3-person
best balls, 2-person Ryder Cup and three couples tournaments with a variety of formats. For more information, please give us a call at 712-642-2124.

Gregg and Lori Nisley purchased
Hildebrand Feed and Seed located
at 125 Harrison in Oakland from
Reanne Hildebrand in September
of 2004. The business offers a
complete line of Hubbard feed for
cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry.
They are the Garst seed dealer and
also carry lawn and garden seeds
and supplies. They carry Diamond
brand pet food for dogs and cats
and bird feed as well. Other items
offered are Double H Boots, Muck
Boots, gloves, rat and mouse bait,
fly sprays and miscellaneous supplies. Living in a small community
limits the number of customers,
so they feel that customer service
is very important. Stop in and
say “Hi” and see what we have to
offer. Compare our prices! With
gasoline prices so high, can you
afford to drive to the city to save a
few cents? We can be reached at
712-482-3171.

Carson

the “ Shriners”, Business Trick
or Treat Night, Christmas in
Carson Night/Craft Show and
many comical and highly
entertaining “Wilma Laughlin”
Dinner Theatre productions.
The Community has several park systems: The Mill Stone
park has two park shelters with
picnic tables, playground area,
softball/baseball field, soccer
field, basketball court, Rodeo
Arena, and 20 RV Camper electric hookups long the Nishna
Botna River. A new canoe/boat
ramp has been constructed
along the river to allow visitors
easy access to the riverfront.
Currently the City and Park
Board are working on installing
a new asphalt pedestrian trail
system and roadside heritage
park & rest area for the park
system.
The Community Center
houses City Hall, a fitness center (memberships available
starting at $15 per month, per
person), Banquet Hall/Kitchen,
Voting Precinct, and several
smaller meeting rooms available to serve your rental needs.

Call 712-484-3636 or visit
www.carsonia.com for more
information and photos on
Carson City and the Carson
Community Center.

Mertes Welding
& Repair

Carson, Iowa

712-484-3821
Mertes Welding and Repair is
located at 119 S. Commercial St. A
family owned business since 1952.
Mark and Amy Mertes took over
this custom steel fabrication and
machine work operation in 1991.
They build many special projects
that are unique, one-of-a-kind and
cannot be purchased ready-made.
Although a large portion of their
business is dependent on agribusiness, they find themselves doing
more residential and commercial
metal working projects. They can
be reached at 484-3821.

MaLvern

Whether you’re visiting for a weekend get-away, a leisurely day
of shopping, a fun filled event, biking on the Wabash Trace, or
you live here on a daily basis, Malvern Iowa has so much to
offer. Visit our website at www.malverniowa.com and see what
you have been missing.

LOTS OF ICE CREAM SPECIALITIES!!
Every Saturday is Cheeseburger Saturday!
Cheeseburger & French Fries for $2.99

DAILY NOON SPECIALS!
The C&M Place in Malvern Iowa is a great little restaurant. Known
for it’s cheese philly as well as the seasoned curly cue fries. If you have
room, the sundaes looked awesome. They have a very friendly staff and
are very accommodating. Come check us out!

MaCedonia

Macedonia is a historical town
with the Mormon Trail winding
through the city and nearby
countryside. The city has a
covered stadium that is one
of two remaining in Iowa, a
beautifully shaded park with
playground equipment and
a walking trail. A half mile
from town is the descent to the
river at Olde Town Park where
Mormons crossed the river on
the limestone rock ledge.

Stempel Bird
Museum

&

Pioneer Trail
Museum
712-486-2568

316 Main St. • Macedonia
Macedonia Historical Preservation
Society (MHPS) has restored a
Macedonia Main Street Building that
is now used for the Pioneer Trail
Museum. MHPS received an Iowa
West Foundation matching grant to
help restore the wood floor and
the windowed façade. Old flooring from a one-room school house
has been used to replace the damaged pieces. Volunteers have raised
money through events, donations
and memorials. The Nishna Botna
River Rubber Ducky Race will be the
next event on June 8th at 1 p.m. at
Olde Town Park West of Macedonia.
The historical society is also responsible for the Stempel Bird Collection!

Glenwood is located south
of the nation’s crossroads;
4 miles from the junction of
I-29 & I-80 in Mills County in
southwest Iowa. Glenwood is
14 miles from Council Bluffs,
IA and 22 miles from Omaha,
NE. Glenwood has the best of
both worlds; a friendly small
town close to a major metro.
Glenwood offers midwest living
at it’s very best.
The business district of
Glenwood serves a central role.
The downtown center remains

the focus of civic and commercial life in the community.
Long standing businesses mix
with new enterprises, centered
around a historic courthouse
square. Glenwood is a service
and human service community. Glenwood prides itself
in it’s occupancy on the town
square. The business community also extends to Locust St.,
Glenwood Plaza and other locations throughout the community.

Glenwood
Fresh, high quality
food and a
great atmosphere!
104 S. Walnut St.
Glenwood

FREE Order

712-527-1911
www.doodlesgrill.com
Located in the old Oasis building just off the square, Doodles Grill
has been serving the residents of
Glenwood, Iowa since July 8, 2013.
The restaurant is the dream child of
Wendy and Joe Kuhnert, who met
over a heated exchange between a
cook and a waitress at a TGI Fridays
25 years ago. A family run business,
they pride themselves on offering a
menu where almost everything is

of Doodle Strings
with a $10 purchase

made from scratch. Their delicious
menu items include traditional comfort foods and fun foods you’ll remember from childhood.
Doodles Grill is located on 104
S. Walnut St, Glenwood IA and can
be reached at 712-527-1911 or online at www.doodlesgrill.com. Party
rooms and offsite catering are also
available.

We understand, we care and we can help.

they symbolize and exemplify the
virtue of living in the moment and
living life to the fullest. The dragonfly that graces their logo is in memory of Chrystal and all types of special
needs children.
While mainly focused on child
services, the organization is starting
to branch out into adult and elderly
services as well. Julie, along with
one of her program managers, has
also recently become certified in
Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
Adult and Mental Health First Aid
classes are also available and elderly
companionship care will be available
soon. Even though Embrace Iowa
Inc. is mostly Medicaid funded, it is
important to know that they do have
private pay options and have recently been approved by some insurance
companies. Embrace Iowa Inc. is located a 504 Sharp St., Glenwood IA
and can be reached at 712-527-2747
or online at www.embraceiowainc.
com.

WWW.SELLLAW.COM
Sell Law, PLC is a Glenwood, Iowa
based law firm focused on representing plaintiffs in complex cases
such as, but not limited to: Business
Litigation, Property Rights Litigation,
Family Law and Criminal Law. At the
helm is DeShawne Bird-Sell, who is
a principal at Sell Law, PLC and an
active trial lawyer at the Iowa based
litigation firm. Her practice focuses
on plaintiffs’ litigation including matters involving business disputes,
property rights, probate and family

law. She has tried many jury cases
to verdict as lead counsel in state
court and has also argued numerous
appellate cases in the Iowa Court
of Appeals and the Iowa Supreme
Court. Since 2003, DeShawne has
been a regular speaker to the Southwest Iowa Lawyers League on recent
developments in Iowa law.
Sell Law, PLC is located at 417
Sharp St., Glenwood IA and can be
reached at 712-527-4026 or online
at www.selllaw.com.

Formerly known as Embrace LLC,
Embrace Iowa Inc. has been serving families of Southwest Iowa since
2008 (the organization went through
a restructure and name change in
2012). Founder, Julie Kalambokidis,
saw a need when she and her husband adopted three special needs
children from foster care. The services the children needed were not
available where they lived and the
nearest providers were in Council
Bluffs. Working for Pottawattamie
County Community Services for almost 12 years, Julie knew this was
a widespread problem for rural areas
and now, with her kids in need, she
decided to start her own company to
help meet the needs of children like
them.
In honor of Julie’s cousin, Chrystal McMartin (who passed away
from complications of her cystic
fibrosis), Embrace Iowa Inc. uses a
dragonfly as their symbolic mascot.
Not only are dragonflies beautiful,
but because of their short life span,

The Gridiron Garage
opened its doors on June 30th of
last year. “We were tired of having
to go to Council Bluffs or Omaha to
take our kids for supper if we wanted
to watch a sporting event or enjoy
a beer during a football game,” says
owner DeShawne Bird-Sell.
With the help of her husband and four children they designed and constructed the restaurant. “We spent six solid months,
day and night, working to finish in
time for summer. Our daughter
came home from the University of
Iowa to assist in the menu design,
food choices and other facets prior
to opening.”
Together they brought the
old building back to its original state
with its high ceilings and exposed
brick. Other features include a stone

1/2 PRICE
APPETIZERS
Sunday - Thursday!

Expires 9/15/14

www.gridirongarage.com

entry to the quarter-sawn oak panels
and handmade booths. The elaborate bar was designed and built to
include lighted panels and underlighting with displays for the vast
array of liquors available. The solid
oak twisted columns added a unique
“twist” to the bar.
The menu boasts a wide
variety of options, with the majority of the items made from scratch,
including Grandma T’s Ham Balls.
“This recipe is my husband’s grandmother’s that has been used in Glenwood for years as a fundraiser at
local churches. We serve two ginormous ham balls with real mashed
potatoes, green beans, a salad and
a dinner roll.” An extensive selection of drinks is also available. “I am
quite sure we have the biggest selection of drinks in all of Southwest

Iowa,” says Bird-Sell.
A Sunday Brunch has also
been added to the menu which includes: eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, roast beef, chicken
fried chicken, mashed potatoes,
gravy, salad, rolls, homemade
strawberry shortcake, green bean
casserole, breakfast potatoes, fresh
fruit and much more. The Gridiron
Garage plans to roll out a new menu
on their first anniversary.
With the exceptional leadership of General Manager, Kelsy
Young, Bird-Sell aims to keep providing excellent food and service to
their patrons. They are located at
419 Sharp St., Glenwood IA and can
be reached at 712-800-1122 or online at www.gridirongarage.com.

Stop pounding the
pavement in search of
a new job and start
checking the classified
job listings. You’ll zero
in on the right
opportunities in no time.

535 W. Broadway, Ste. 300
NonpareilOnline.com • 328-1811

neola
Neola was first settled by the Pottawattamie Indians around 1839. The word “Neola,” accordingly to Iowa history means “lookout.”
Neola borders Mosquito creek and rises up on hills from which one can see a distance of five miles. In 1869 The Chicago Rock Island and
Pacific Railroad was built and the town grew. The railroad brought many people into the area to build businesses, schools, churches and
farmsteads. Neola was incorporated in 1882. The city of Neola observed its 125th anniversary at the annual Hoo Doo Days celebration
in September 2007.
Like other small towns, Neola strives to keep its existing businesses and to create opportunities for new businesses. Neola citizens work
hard to keep their community safe and beautiful.

Home of the “Swamp Donkey”

Iowa’s Talents being appreciated by Iowa people and beyond its
borders.
This is Neola’s artists, Russ and
Penny Christiansen. After 32 years
in business at the same location in
Neola, Iowa, the vision of their business ethics have remained the same.
Their motto is “When you want quality, a smiling face… and someone
who cares, Come See Us… We Live
In Iowa!”
The couple have restored ancient
paintings, created bronze monuments, taught hundreds of students
the wonder of art, been in numerous
museums, traveled the United States
selling their art work, and they encourage everyone to come to the best
state ever. Iowa: The land of opportunity and appreciation.

Russ recently completed 2
bronze eagles to be installed in front
of the courthouse in Newton, Iowa.
Russ adds, “My greatest achievement
was the gift of being able to do the
Eagles of Honor Project to honor our
Veterans.”
Penny added, “Besides helping
Russ with the Veterans project, her
alone achievement is when two of her
paintings won at the Joslyn Art Museum’s biennial. Then I was offered a
one woman show.” Penny is currently
working on a large mural of our Iowa
farmland at Heartland Coop.
Russ and Penny will both be teachers at their annual children’s Art and
Nature Camp. The camp will be held
at Arrowhead Park the first week in
June. The classes are for ages 5 and
up.

CHARITY SAND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS ALL SUMMER
Find out more at: bucksnortneola.com
113 4th St. • Neola, IA • 712.485.9090
Hungry? Come on in and enjoy the
food at The Buck Snort in Neola,
Iowa. We have a wide variety of
food: pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, pizza, wraps, appetizers,
BBQ sandwiches, and salads. This
rustic, hometown restaurant nestled in the hills of Southwest Iowa
is located 21 miles east of Council
Bluffs. The Buck Snort offers fun
and excitement for all ages. “Pizza
Night” happens every Tuesday night

with $12.99 any size any topping
pizzas. The Buck Snort is open
Sunday through Thursday from
10:30am to 8:00pm and 10:30am
to 9:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Also, The Buck Snort now offers delivery to Minden, Neola, and
Underwood. Stop by and enjoy the
excellent atmosphere, delicious aromas brought about by outstanding
foods, and follow your meal with an
ice cold beer at The Buck Snort.

Zimmerman Sales and Service
(Formerly Zimmerman Farm Supply
of Minden) was started as a farm
supply, livestock feed store, and
farm construction company in 1963
by Kevin Zimmerman’s father, Jerry
Zimmerman. The family grew up
helping in all aspects of the business. After graduation at Tri Center
High School, Kevin attended Iowa
Western Community College graduating with an associates degree in
Applied Science in Electronics. In
1989 Jerry and Kevin formed a partnership in Zimmerman Sales and
Service, Inc. and based the business in Neola, Iowa giving them a
larger location to run their operation.
Although through the years they
have phased out the livestock feed
and their grind and mix operation,
they still specialize and offer full ser-

vice and sales in grain bins, buildings, electrical and concrete work
from remodels to new construction.
With their long time motto, “ We
Service What We Sell”, Kevin and
Paulette have since bought the business and manage all aspects of the
business for all your grain bin, building and electrical needs.
We also handle Pet food, seed,
bolts, nuts, screws, gloves, roller
chain, misc farm supplies, Crystalyx
Cattle Lick tubs, Gallagher Fencing
Parts, Sprayer Parts, welding, New
Baldor and Leeson Electric Motors
and electric motor repair.
Stop by Zimmerman Sales and
Service for all your farming needs.
Business hours are 8a.m. to 5p.m.
Monday through Friday and 8a.m. to
Noon on Saturdays.

The Celebrate CB Board would like to thank the following sponsors,
individuals and organizations for their enormous help in making the
2014 Celebrate CB Week a huge success.

-SON
GOLF
SPECIAL
FATHER(OR FATHER-DAUGHTER)
Buy one $99 golf card,
get a second card at half price!

2 cards for $148.50
If you’ve already purchased a card at full price, stop by the
offices of The Daily Nonpareil, show us your card, and pick up
a second card for only $49.50!*

2

7

Atlantic
Golf &
Country
Club

3

8

LoganMissouri
Valley
Country
Club

4
9

5
10

6
11

• Card is for golf only and does not cover cart rental.
• Tee times required at all locations.
• Must mention Southwest Iowa Golf Card when
scheduling tee times.
• Card good Monday-Thursday anytime and on weekends
after 2:00pm based on tee time availablility.
• Card expires October 31, 2014.

1

One Southwest Iowa Golf Card entitles you to one
18-hole round of golf at 11 different golf courses!

99

Some restrictions apply:

A $279
value
for only

$

2014SOUTHWEST IOWA

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C A R D

A 64% SAVINGS!

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Two easy ways to purchase:

1. Go online to www.nonpareilonline.com/golfcard,
make your purchase and your cards will be mailed
directly to you. *Sorry, 1/2 price cards not available online.
2. Stop by the offices of The Daily Nonpareil at
535 W. Broadway, Suite 300 in downtown
Council Bluffs, make your purchase and we’ll
hand you your cards in person.

2/13/2014 4:10:25 PM

Some restrictions apply:

• Card is for golf only and does not cover cart rental.
• Tee times required at all locations.
• Must mention Southwest Iowa Golf Card when
scheduling tee times.
• Card good Monday-Thursday anytime and on weekends
after 2:00pm based on tee time availablility.
• Both cards expire October 31, 2014.

Faces of Neighbors

16F Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Daily Nonpareil

TANK THE TURTLE TEACHES TOTS
TANK/From Page 1F

briefly mistaking his pinky finger for a steamed shrimp. He’s
never gone after the family
dog, Skipper, and he makes
regular visits to meet with
school groups.
Those trips are the reason
Gilfillan is allowed to keep
what Council Bluffs officials
would otherwise classify as a
dangerous animal, although
Tank’s personal and species
name both misrepresent his
soft side.
Gilfillan spent 24 years as
a Pottawattamie County sheriff’s deputy, and he taught
Drug Abuse Resistance Education until about four years ago
when he retired.
With his background in
law enforcement, Gilfillan was
used to reading ordinances. In
the fall of 2012, he said he
realized snapping turtles were
among animals banned by the
city.
“I actually don’t want to be
in violation of the code,” he
said.
But the code allowed for
an exception for animals used
for educational purposes, and
Tank already regularly met
with schoolchildren.
So Gilfillan approached
the authorities, requesting a
waiver. He credits being proactive about making Tank a lawful resident of Council Bluffs as
part of the reason he received
the variance, along with his
law enforcement background.
He keeps a laminated copy
of the letter certifying Tank’s
status as a legal turtle, in case
anyone ever reports his pet.
To continue to keep Tank
lawful, he has to hold a valid
fishing licence. Snapping turtles are considered game animals in Iowa, and the state
allows license-holders to have
up to 150 pounds of live turtle,
Gilfillan said.
He also has to carry insurance, which he already was,
and he has to make sure
children don’t get too close
to Tank’s head and its sharp

‘It just seems
where ever he
goes, people fall in
love with him.’
– Steve Gilfillan
about Tank, his pet
Snapping Turtle

Staff photo/Joe Shearer

Steve Gilfillan spends some quality time with his snapping turtle, Tank, in his home on May 15.
snout.
“I think that would go for a
dog, too,” he said.
In fact, Tank’s life isn’t
that different from Skipper. He wanders around the
house, especially after having
a brand-new tank installed in
the living room after he outgrew the bathtub.
“He’ll climb up on the
couch,” Gilfillan said. “It really

is like having a shelled dog,”
He said one of his daughters once took a blanket, which
once belonged to the late family dog Alex, that Tank uses
when she laid down on the
couch. Tank climbed up on the
couch and gave her a look like
a child whose possession had
been taken away by a sibling.
“He is very intelligent,” Gilfillan said.

But he is concerned what
would happen if Tank got loose.
The turtle couldn’t go back to
living in the wild because he’s
too comfortable with people.
Fortunately, Tank only roams
about 20 feet when he does
take trips into the backyard.
“He’s spoiled rotten,” he
admitted. “There’s no doubt.”
Tank recently visited science classes at Heartland

Tank will be at the Council
Bluffs Public Library on July
28 for a free event to meet with
the public. That event is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
“I’m hoping to get more and
more people to learn these
snapping turtles aren’t these
menacing creatures,” he said.
“He’s probably one of the most
awesome animals I’ve ever
had.”

Christian School. As a former
DARE teacher, Gilfillan enjoys
being back in the classroom.
Beyond visiting with local
children, Tank has recently
taken trips to the University of
Nebraska at Omaha and met
with the Nebraska and Iowa
herpetological societies.
“It just seems where ever
he goes, people fall in love with
him,” he said.

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